Help the Gambardellas heal after tragic accident

It can happen in an instant, but we never believe it will until the unthinkable strikes. This is Kathy and Joe's story.

On August 23, 2024, Kathy and Joe Gambardella had returned from dropping their son off at college for his sophomore year and football season earlier that week, and were looking forward to hosting their daughter's high school soccer team for a beach party and campfire later that weekend. Taking a rare moment for just the two of them, the couple was enjoying a beautiful late afternoon ride together when a driver in a pickup truck ran a stop sign and collided with their motorcycle. Both riders were ejected from the motorcycle and sustained serious injuries. Emergency responders directed Kathy to be transported by LIFE STAR to the hospital where she was admitted to neurosurgery. Joe was transported by ambulance to the same hospital where he is being treated for multiple injuries, including surgical repair of his femur and is currently in the ICU.

As Kathy and Joe are both independently employed, this fundraiser is being organized to assist the family with medical bills as needed, and with other costs surrounding their recovery, including support of their children Téa, Santino and, of course, their fur-baby, Bear; while they navigate the next steps of this extremely difficult time and the road ahead. Your contribution would mean so much to Kathy and Joe, who have always given so much of themselves to all the many communities that they and their children have been a part of including football, soccer, lacrosse and dance to name just a few.

Kathy and Joe's 21st wedding anniversary will be on October 17. What an act of love and community it would be if we could meet or exceed our fundraising goal of $100,000 by then.

Looking for other ways to support? Please consider signing up to deliver a home cooked meal, provide a restaurant meal delivery or contribute gift cards for meals:

Link to GamFam meal-train and meal gift card

Thank you for your support of this amazing family!

2 hospitalized after Killingworth motorcycle crash